• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.205-217
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the subjective health status (SHS) of low-income older adults living alone. Methods: This is a cross-sectional correlational study using secondary data analysis. Sociodemographic and health-related characteristics were included in this analysis. The health-related characteristics were categorized into three domains: physical, characterized by the number of chronic diseases and fall-related factors, timed up and go, and grip strength; psychological, in terms of depression and loneliness; and social, in terms of social support. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The mean SHS score was 2.46 out of five. Several factors influenced the SHS of low-income older adults living alone, including sex, age, level of education, monthly income, and the three domains. Four significant predictive factors of SHS in low-income older adults living alone were identified (42.5%): the number of chronic diseases, fear of falling, depression, and social support. Conclusion: SHS is a critical factor for older adults living alone on a low-income. Hence, evaluating SHS and developing interventions to improve it periodically is necessay. Such interventions should consider chronic disease management, screening and mediation for depression and fear of falling, and strengthening their social support systems.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.314-320
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of falls in community-dwelling older adults and to identify associated factors using the 2019 Community Health Survey. Methods: The original data was from the 2019 Community Health Survey, and the study sample comprised 1,642 older adults aged 65 years and older in Jeju province. Data collection was conducted from August 16 to November 20, 2019, through an interview done by a trained investigator. Respondents were queried about demographic characteristics, riding bicycles, hospital treatment due to an accident or poisoning in the previous year, fall experiences in the past year, fear of falling, self-management status, and pain and discomfort. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate for associations between potential risk factors and falls. Results: The prevalence of falls in this community-dwelling older adults was 13.1%. Falls were associated with riding bicycles (odds ratio = 4.7; 95% confidence interval: 2.26-9.81), fear of falling (odds ratio = 0.3; 95% confidence interval: 0.24-0.49), hospital treatment due to an accident or poisoning in the previous year (odds ratio = 7.8; 95% confidence interval: 5.02-12.19), self-management status (odds ratio = 0.6; 95% confidence interval: 0.34-0.89), and pain and discomfort (odds ratio = 0.6; 95% confidence interval: 0.40-0.87). Conclusions: We found that the prevalence of approximately about 13% of older adults living in a community has experienced falls. Based on the results of the study, we provided primary data to develop the care management intervention program to prevent falls and avoid risk factors that cause falls in community-dwelling older adults.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2023

Background: Like many other countries, falls and related injuries in older adults are great concerns in South Korea. In particular, falls are common in medical institutions, often causing the increase of the length of hospitalization. Objects: The purpose of this review was to help understand and address falls in hospitalized individuals in South Korea. Methods: The review was conducted on literature published in Korean from 2010 to 2022, searched in the Korea Citation Index and PubMed. Keywords used for the search were as follows: falls, fall risk, fall risk assessment, hospital, inpatient, intervention, Korea, and prevention. Results: A total of 54 articles were found and reviewed. The most common place of fall accidents was the inpatient room, where there were many cases of falls while walking. Loss of balance was the most common cause of falls, and many falls occurred in patients admitted to the internal medicine. Furthermore, a risk of falling increased with the type of medications taken. In terms of tools to assess patients' fall risk, the Morse Fall Scale (MFS) was commonly used. Patient-specific fall prevention activities were common to address falls, and they decreased the frequency of falls and the fear of falling. Factors influencing the effectiveness of the fall prevention activities included attitudes toward falls, education, environmental factors, patient safety culture, and self-efficacy in preventing falls. Conclusion: Our results should help understand and address falls and injuries in medical institutions.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.62-76
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• 2003

This study was a quasi-experimental study of non-equivalent control group pretest and posttest design. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Tai Chi exercise program on physical functions, psychological functions, and fall among the fall-prone elderly. The data were collected from September 19, 2001 to January 31, 2002. The study, conducted at two facilities located in Kwang-ju, was targeted to the ambulatory aged 60 years or older who had at least one of the key fall risk factors. Experimental group participated in Tai Chi exercise for 40 minutes per one time and three times a week for 12weeks at an auditorium. Fifty nine fall-prone elderly were assigned to 12-week Tai Chi exercise program (n=29) and control group (n=30). They underwent tests of lower muscle strength, time for chair stand, balance, flexibility, depression, falls efficacy, fear of falling, and numbers of fall at the baseline and at the 12th week. Numbers of fall and fall injuries were monitored for 16 weeks(12-weeks intervention plus 4-week follow-up periods) using fall calendar. Each participant was given a calendar to record the numbers of fall per day for a month. The calendars were collected at the last week of each month. 1. Tai Chi exercisers showed significant improvement in the strength of knee flexors, and ankle dorsiflexors and plantarflexors compared to the control group. The experimental group had improvement in the strength of knee extensors while the control group did not, with no statistical significance. 2. Tai Chi exercisers reported positive change in the average time of chair stand as compared to the control group. 3. Tai Chi exercisers had significant improvement in flexibility as compared to the control group. 4. There was no significant difference in the depression between the two groups, even though the Tai Chi exercisers maintained depression score in the same level while the others were increased. 5. Tai Chi exercisers showed significant improvements in the falls efficacy as compared to the control group. The falls efficacy was significantly improved among the experimental group while the opposite was identified among the control group. 6. The experimental group reported the significant reduction of the fear of fall, whereas control group reported the opposite. 7. Of the 59 subjects for 16weeks(12weeks intervention period and 4weeks follow up), 9 (31.0%) of the 29 in exercise group and 15 (50%) of the 30 in the control group fell (relative risk=0.62. 95% CI 0.32-1.19), even with no statistical difference. The results suggest that the Tai Chi exercise program can improve the strength of knee flexors, ankle dorsiflexors and plantarflexors, chair stand. flexibility, falls efficacy, and fear of falling for the fall-prone elderly.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.602-607
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• 2017

This study was undertaken to compare the gait characteristics between the Korean elderly and young adults, we measured the plantar pressure and contact time of gait with barefoot along a walkway at their preferred walking speed. The results indicate that older people exhibited significantly less plantar pressure than young adult in all 3 regions (FF, MF and RF) and significantly less time % on the initial contact phase (ICP), forefoot push-off phase (FFPOP) and significantly more % forefoot contact phase (FFCP) and foot flat phase (FFP). The converted plantar pressure value to percentage, it showed more pressure in forefoot (FF) in the elderly person than the young adults. It could be explained that the forward shifting in plantar pressure are associated with a more flexed posture of elderly such as actual stabilizing fearrelated adaptations. Longer total foot contact time in the elderly means that the old people show the decreased gait velocity. In other words, lower velocity was found to be associated with pre-existing fear of falling. With longer contact time and slower stepping movement, the elderly become more unstable. With these findings, it could be confirmed that there were significant changes in foot characteristics which contribute to alter the plantar pressure and contact time during gait with advancing age. Further research is required to establish possible links to risk of falling and development of footwear in the elderly adults.

• 한국노년학
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.377-395
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• 2012

This study was conducted to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of Multifactorial Fall Prevention Program (MFPP) for local low-income elderly people on physical·psychological, and home environmental hazards, and falling frequency. The selected elderly people was provided the MFPP during an eight-week period of time, once a week, 70 to 90 minutes per each section. The design of this study was non-equivalent control-group with repeated measuring by quasi-experimental study. Data were collected before treatment, 8 week after treatment and 4 week after retention from July to October, 2010. Data were analyzed with numbers, percentage, Fisher's exact test, x²-test, repeated measures ANOVA, ANCOVA and Logistic regression. There were significant differences in fall frequency, balance, fear of falling, fall efficacy, home environmental hazards between the experimental group (EG) and control group (CG). This study showed that the multifactorial fall prevention program(MFPP) was useful nursing intervention for strengthening physical·psychological and environmental functions of the low-income elderly people, as well as preventing fall.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.444-451
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in temporospatial variables in healthy elderly and healthy adults during usual walking, narrow base walking and centerline-guided walking. Twenty healthy elderly and nineteen healthy adults were participated in this study. In each conditions, the subjects were walked on a 6m walkway at comfortable self-selected speeds under three conditions : (1) usual walking, (2) walking within a 50% of the distance between the subject's ASIS (3) walking along a centerline. GAITRite system was used for kinematic analysis to assess the temporospatial variables. There were no significant changes in healthy adults(p>.05), but walking speed, cadence, H-H base support, functional ambulation performance were significantly decreased progressively as pathway narrowed in elderly adults(p<.05). The results show that elderly people had more difficulty with walking on narrow pathway for fear of falling. This study provides data for use in basic research into safe walking and preventing falling for elderly.

• Journal of Korean Living Environment System
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.360-367
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• 2017

Although the elderly collecting and selling wastepaper is one of the most vulnerable groups in society, this group has not been studied specifically. Subjective health status is an important aspect of quality of life in old age. The purpose of this study is to examine factors affecting subjective health status among the elderly collecting and selling wastepaper. Analyses are based on data from 2014 Korean Elderly Survey. Multiple regression analysis showed that gender, depression, and fear of falling were associated with subjective health status. The results of this study suggest that gender and mental health aspects should be considered in making intervention plan for assessments and providing services for health among the elderly collecting and selling wastepaper. The study findings also indicate that efforts to improve safety in worksite of elderly persons collecting and selling wastepaper are needed.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.1-17
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• 2007

The subjects, 114 mothers with infants from 6- to 24- months of age, were administered the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised(Gartstein & Rothbart, 2003), Adult Temperament Questionnaire(Derryberry & Rothbart, 1988) and Parenting Efficacy(Park & Rha, 2003; Lederman, Weigarten & Lederman, 1981) Boys were more distressed than girls in limitation and in falling reactivity/rate of recovery. Parenting efficacy was greater for mothers with daughters than mothers with sons. Infants' fear and distress to limitation correlated positively with mothers' sadness. Infants' attention span correlated positively with mothers' attentional control, inhibition control and positive control. Parenting efficacy was higher in mothers whose children fall asleep easily and have longer attention spans. Mothers' positive affect and activation control increased and frustration decreased parenting efficacy.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.167-178
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was done to identify the effects of a health diary program on fall related outcomes the low-income elderly women. Methods: The study was carried out with a nonequivalent control group with pretest-posttest design. The study was composed of two groups, each made up of 24 subjects: experimental group and control group. The subjects were low-income women aged over 65 years with osteoarthritis and both the experimental and control groups were made up of subjects with the same age profiles. The independent variable was the health diary program, and the dependent variables were fall related outcomes (fear of falling, fall-efficacy, knowledge of fall) difficulty of performing activity, and mood state. The health diary program was performed for 50 minutes each session and twice a week for 8 weeks. Data were collected before the health diary program 10 weeks after the beginning of the program. Results: The experimental group showed significant differences in knowledge of fall, fear of falling, and mood state compared to the control group. However there was no significant differences in difficulty of performing activity and fall efficacy. Conclusion: The results of this study may be used as part of an education to prevent falls for low-income elderly women with osteoarthritis.